Entertainment Editor-at-Large, Los Angeles

In an industry ruled by handshakes and long lunches, the measure of power is not as simple as the plaque on your door. Some offices, such as network chief executives, wield influence by virtue of their roles. Others are touched by ratings gold, have produced the most innovative and edgy programs or presided over long careers or vast slates.

Fairfax Media informally canvassed a panel of experts – critics, executives and industry insiders – to compile this list of the 75 most influential people in television.

It draws together the power partnerships, the deal-makers behind the deals, stars with contract-closing power, the agents who represent them, those with a luminous media presence and the myriad of players, producers and stakeholders who live in the shadows.

Channel Nine CEO David Gyngell. Photo: Chris Pearce

The network bosses

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* Richard Freudenstein, chief executive, Foxtel

Steered a path of innovation towards a bigger audience and stronger profits.

Tony Ayres of Matchbox Pictures. Photo: Simon Schluter

* David Gyngell, chief executive, Channel Nine

Linked inextricably to Nine's DNA, and leads Nine in its new golden age.

The expert in human emotion; credits include The Slap, Devil’s Playground, Deadline Gallipoli and The Kettering Incident.

The new game in town

* Mike Sneesby, chief executive, StreamCo

* Craig White, chief executive, Ezyflix

* Scott Lorson, chief executive, FetchTV

* Stephen Langsford, chief executive, Quickflix

When compared with the US, where platforms such as Netflix and Hulu have become dominant players, streaming is still in its infancy in Australia, but expect that to change - rapidly - in the next year.

* Some entries in the list are grouped by production company, altering the total.

33 comments

Now it's time to analyse why our media never reflects our Multicultural society.

Are these people to blame for seeing such mediocrity in our bland television landscape?

To some degree.YES

Ironic that the head of a rabid right wing station is of Greek heritage.

Please dear players...look at the decline state of our media and open up your creative talents to a very different Australia.

Commenter

the Contrarian

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 1:34AM

this is possibly the worst layout of text and photos ever produced by the Herald... talk about confusing

Commenter

jzj

Location

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 1:55PM

Definitely.

Commenter

Emma

Location

Sydney

Date and time

August 18, 2014, 7:39AM

Whomever wields the staff of command (the remote) is in charge.

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# I keep on telling SBS that I want South Korean drama series shown (because I'm tired of waiting to swap content with fans at the likes of supanova) as they're soooo super addictive but SBS won't listen. Does anyone swap Aus content at supanova etc etc? No, of course we don't because Aus content is the same thing again and again and again- it's a punishment to watch.

## 1 year ago a rare Japanese cultural wave washed over South Korea following the airing of the sci-fi anime series "Attack on Titan". It saw South Korean middle aged males citing the catch phrase from the show in everyday speech. Now, I want to experience this and see for myself what was going on- do I have to beg you SBS to air this series?

### With the exception of Extent (which I download anyway) there isn't a single thing on 10 that draws me over to it. Give me a part time job programing your flagship station and I'll double your viewership across the board- stop appointing mates or suit-wearing chums to the programer positions or 10 will implode under debt stress. Stop prescribing and start listening.

Commenter

Alex

Location

Finley

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 6:26PM

@ Alex, like all egomaniacs, your opinion is all that counts.

Ten is dying and if you understand the changing media landscape (which you clearly don't), you'll know that it's very limited in the 50's broadcast style format. It has nothing to do with your self-perceived superior media savvy, it's the business model of the free-to-airs. Australia no longer has the advertising base to support Ten, Nine and Seven, the ad dollar is shrinking and your self perceived genius at programming won't change that.

What's more startling is that 2+SBS do substantially more for substantially less.

Commenter

JoBlo

Location

Here

Date and time

August 18, 2014, 8:41AM

To tell the truth the so called commercial channels, which I suppose are so called because they show more commercials than show, are all dying from a diseases called "reality show fever" and "soap show fever" interspersed between the copious advertisements that go on ad nausium. The ABC channels do have a few shows worth watching but the plethora of "Current Affairs" programs slanted to the left of centre are starting to wear thin and of course SBS which occasionally shows something worth watching make up the sum total of what we laughingly refer to as Free To Air TV. Of course we also have Foxtel which has channel after channel or re runs of re runs and the added bonus of channels that re run the re runs of re runs with a two hour gap between the original channels interspersed with advertisement with the added bonus that we have to pay for them and if you want to watch "new" shows then of course you have to pay accordingly to see one or two shows a week that are actually worth watching. It now got to the stage where the only reason to turn on the TV is when your book needs changing at the library or you have a good DVD to watch.

Commenter

thatmosis

Location

Isis central

Date and time

August 18, 2014, 9:35AM

Channel 10 is the only channel worth watching. I don't turn the channel off there very often. So to me it is my opinion which is right!! And stop downloading Extant and watch the damn thing!! You're part of the problem.

Commenter

lbowd

Location

Date and time

August 19, 2014, 1:19AM

Hey, you forgot to put awful after the word extraordinary for Chris Lilley. The guy has no place on talent lists. He is a national embarrassment, and one of the most over-rated people the world has ever seen.